Recently, a friend of mine passed away. He was only 55 years old and in a span of one week he entered the first of two hospitals and died in the second one. It’s funny how sometimes you don’t really know how much a person meant to you until they are gone. This man, Ray, was more my husband’s friend, I considered, but his death has impacted me too.

I find myself remembering things or seeing things that remind me of Ray. The other day my husband and I commented on how we were going to invite him and his wife back to Tarpon Springs, FL for a fun day at an arcade museum we just heard about there. I was looking forward to watching Ray’s face light up as he played video games alongside my husband. Sadly, that will never be but it’s a valuable lesson to all of us to not hold back, not wait for a better time to do things. Act now while you can. Love those around you, share your love with family and friends, do little acts of love and support and let nothing hold you back for you never know what tomorrow may bring.

So with the coming of the New Year, 2015, forget the dieting, forget the ‘life altering’ plastic surgery and other non-essential trivia. Let’s remember what’s really important: family and friends and being of service to others while we are still here. Let’s resolve to spend every minute we can with those who are most important to us, to laugh, cheerily and heartily, with every opportunity we get, to cherish every moment as a gift, a treasure we may never be able to reclaim and to love openly, sharing our generous heart with those who love us back.

Let’s not let anything keep us from living, loving, sharing, and enjoying life. It is what we make of it so let’s make every day special and joyful in some way.

Cheers to you and be safe during this coming New Year.

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Thank you TK Lawyer for writing this tribute in Ray’s honor. It was beautifully written. He loved both you and Jim very much and enjoyed both your company when we would get together. We loved that time we went to Tarpon Springs together. Those are memories I will treasure in my years of life! Love you 💜